Scott-Taylor Designs Six-hole Course in Pennsylvania

Welsh golf architect, Ian Scott-Taylor, has completed the design and construction of a six-hole golf course for an over-55 community called Foxfield Clubhouse Community in Garnet Valley, Pa.

Last year, project developer The McKee Group contracted Scott-Taylor to design and build the "Old World-style" course as part of the project. In addition to the course the project includes a 9,200-square-foot clubhouse and pool and tennis facilities. Europe's first six-hole course opened in 2006 at the Northwick Park Golf Course in the Watford Road section of London. A handful of six-hole courses exist in the U.S. Today, more six-hole golf courses have been built and in planning in the States for time-strapped golfers and sites with smaller tracts of land.

Foxfield is located 20 miles outside of Philadelphia. The course will serve as a centerpiece in the development, which will also contain single-family, carriage-style, and villa homes.

Of the course, George T. Hyjurick, McKee's VP of Land Development says, "We had originally wanted a nine-hole course but Ian knew the space we had allocated for the course was not large enough. He proposed a fairly new concept - the six-hole course - that ended up being a win-win for both McKee and the homeowners. Not only can we offer an attractive and enjoyable amenity to current and potential community homeowners but also the short and long-term maintenance costs will be much less to the homeowners association than a nine-hole course due to the decision to use synthetic materials for the tees and greens. We estimate that 20 percent of our signed contracts were confirmed due to having this course."

Scott-Taylor added: "In general, residents of 55-plus communities are savvy and discerning consumers. They expect a certain level of lifestyle and amenities that can be commanded by age-specific neighborhoods. The McKee Group was able to meet those needs at the Foxfield location where land is a premium by committing to build a marketable 'Old World Style' golf course while at the same time keeping the maintenance costs in line with the community's other compelling amenities - the pool and tennis courts."

Course construction was completed in late summer 2007 and it will open for play this summer.